Institutional communication window



Oct. 21, 1941. KELLEY, JR 2,259,751

INSTITUTIONAL COMMUNICATION wmnow Fileq Nov. 16, 1959 INVENTOR 7% I Y% TTORNE Patented Oct. 21, 1941 INSTITUTIONAL COMMUNICATION WINDOW Thomas J. Kelley, Jr., Webster Groves, Mo.,.as-

signor to The Stewart Iron Works Covington,

Company,

Ky., a corporation of Kentucky Application November 16, 1939, Serial No. 304,766

1 Claim.

This invention relates to an improved structure adapted for use in penitentiaries, jails, asylums, and the like, where the inmates are-permitted to communicate with visitors on the outside without having direct contact with them. More specifically, it relates to what might be termed a communication window, by means of which a person in confinement can observe, be observed, and communicate with a person not in confinement, such'as a visitor or a guard.

In providing a structure adapted to the purposes of the invention, it is necessary to take every precaution to prevent those 'on the outside from passing any sort of article to the prisoner, and it is also necessary to provide an observation medium and communication medium which is bullet-resisting. However, at the same time it is necessary to provide a structure through which communication can be established with ease and comparative comfort. I

The general solution to the .communication problem has been to provide a sound receiving aperture, or series of apertures, closely adjacent to the mouth of the speakerson either side of the confinement partition; These corresponding apertures are then joined by a sound passage of irregular contour, through which the sound waves pursue a tortuous route. It is therefore impossible for the speakers to pass articles from aperture to aperture through the sound passage. In

devices of this type there has been involved a problem of sanitation of the apertures and sound passages, and various more or less complicated arrangements for disinfecting these portions of the device have been provided.

The structure of the invention, which is considerably simplified over most of the structures of the prior art, provides a ready and effective observation and communication means in which there is clear visibility between the outside and inside, and an effective sound passage. At the same time, however, there is no sanitation problem, as neither speaker speaks directly into the apertures leading to the sound passage. The slight acoustical valve incident to a structure in which the mouth is placed close to the aperture has been equalized in the present invention by providing improved means for the general collection and passage of sound.

It has been one of the objects of this invention to provide a communication and observation means for institutional use which, although greatly simplified in structure, is very effective for the purposes intended.

A second object has been to provide a structure in which there is no direct contact or close association between the mouth of the speaker on either side and the sound receiving aperture, and, accordingly, one in which no sanitation question is involved.

Another object has been to provide a structure having improved means for sound reception and transmission.

Another object has been to provide a structure in which the observation mediumin this case a panel of bullet-resisting, wired or laminated glass, is supported in the aperture in the institutional partition in such a way as to permit the assembly of the completed structure with a minimum of parts and, resultantly, a minimum of expense.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent from the further and more detailed description of the drawing, disclosing a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation view broken away to show a corner of the glass panel in its mount.

Figure 2 is'a cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2, Figure 1.

In the drawing, a rectangular, bullet-resisting glass panel is' indicated at l. The glass panel is mounted in a similarly configurated aperture 2 in a steel partition 3. Narrow communication slots or sound passages 4, preformed in the partition, extend along the sides and upper edge of the glass panel. The communication slots do not extend the entire length of the sides and the upper edge of the panel, but stop short of each corner to provide supports 5-5 for the two upper corners of the panel.

Rectangular frames 6 and l are provided for the glass panel on both sides of the partition. Each frame is comprised of a base 8 which lies flatly on the partition around the aperture 2 and sound receptor and collector 9 which extends outwardly from the base. The frame is positioned around the aperture 2 so that the inside edge of the base lies along the line of the outside edge of the communication slots 4, so as not to close them. The sound receptor 9 extends outwardly, as at [0, perpendicular to the base and is turned inwardly, as at l I, at approximately 45 to the line of extension, to contact the face of the panel near its edge. The contacting edge 12 of the sound receptor is angulated to present a flat, snug-fitting surface to the face of the panel. Otherwise expressed, the glass panel is held in the aperture of the partition from both sides by a frame comprising a pair of sound receptor elements which contact both faces of the panel near the outer edges of each face and flare outwardly at 45 on all sides of the panel to a line perpendicular to the outside edge of the communication slots 4, and there are turned inwardly to their respective bases 8.

Three of the exposed flared faces of the sound receptor, the upper 13, and the two sides [4 and I5, have a p'lurality'of aligned holes [6 drilled perpendicularly through them; thelower 'face' I! being plain. The holes l6 preferably are placed in the faces of the sound receptor nearer the panel than the outward edge, zso thatsth'e communication holes are near the bottom of cup-like formation of the soundreceptor, which.

tends to collect and focus sound waves-andito increase the acoustical properties of the .communication system. If desired, the faces f3, [4, l5 and I! may be concave instead of straight as illustrated. This will tend to further .improve the acoustics.

lIt may be noted: from Figure T2 .of the drawing that the axes :of 'ithe topposing holes [6 Lin-the faces of Lthe receptors are eat-"righttangles'tto- -one anothe'r, so :that ithe route :of :sound twavesffrom one side of the partition to the otherrnecessarily has to-tpursuen circuitouscourse. ".Thisprevents th'epassage'of any: article, evemaii'l'exiblerzarticle such as a wire, through one raperturerinto ?the sound passage :and out :anothercaperture ion. the iother-sid'eof :the partition.

*The two frames may be held in position -.:-by welding 'or they maybe bolted or riveted itcgether thrQugh the partition.

The drawing discloses the frames .ias 'rbeing." of one piece construction. In this instance, sthe frame is stamped out of a single piece o'f metal.

- Therefore, the;entire structure isassembledifrom only three pieces; lthe two :frames and lthe-zg-lass panel. :A-t thesam'etime, even though theistructure is very '-simple, 'it has-:been found"to..='be very effective for thepurposes intended.

The frames'may b'e comprisedzof severahpieces, as will be readily apparent" to .one skilled Linv the art, and also the angulation of thei -faces .of-the vreceptor'ma'y be varied to meet vvarious:reqnire- :ments. Likewise, thefcontour of the communication window may be altered. A circular, oval, or many-sided window may be provided without departing from the spirit of the invention, and

the contour of the frames may be modified to cona 10 been found that conversational sounds pass "equally well, if not better, through the side and :upper'apertures, and in dispensing with the lower :apertures, the problem of providing means for cleaning and disinfecting the apertures is .15 favoide'dfas a :speaker is at no time directly in .Tfront of .the aperture through which the sound waves of his voice pass.

It isa-humancharacteristic to Wish to look at the person with whom a conversation is being 'had, and, partly for this reason, there is no de- Si-I'BStO turn .sidewisezand speak :directly into the *side :apertures. If :desired, some: specific means scan :be provided toxprevent the speaker from di- :rectly:zapproac'hing the window, and this will in .:no'2way interfere with the :passage of conversationalrtones, zasrthe-'cup-like construction of the '5 receptor will .tend-td'collect. andzraceivethe' tones, -even2thoug-h the speaker-may be a few feet re- .:moved from the'observation panel.

Having :fully described my invention, I desire ,to belimited-only by :the ensuing-rclaim:

.A :sound transmitting window comprising, :a partitionr-wall shaving an-opening therein, apanel :of glass .mounted in :said opening, frame .ele-

.ments :on the .respectivesideszof' the wall includriing:flangei portions extending beyond the margin ;of:theerespcctivetfaces'of the panel of glass for Elr'oldingitin:position,:said:'frames including flared walls'providing .a conical "sound collectingcham- 40 her, the upper and side walls.includingiapertures,

LthB-lOWGI ."wall .being .limperforate, said partition wall including clearance notches along the edges "of :the ipanehof glass adjacent the openings for pe'rmittingzthe transmission of "sound from one 7 'THOM'AS J..KELLEY. .JR.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,2 9,751. October 21, 191

THOMAS J. KELLEY, JR,

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows Page 1, first column, line 115, for the word "valve" read value; and that the said Letters Patent should beread with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 25th day of November, A. D. 19Lpl.

Henry Van Arsdale (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,2 9,7 1. October 21-, 19in.

THOMAS J. KELLEY, JR,

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows Page 1, first column, line 15, for the word "valve" read -value--; and that the said Let- I 'ters Patent should beread with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 25th day of November, A. D. 19Lpl.

Henry Van Arsdale. (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patentsu 

